Play-free device for driving a rotary table

Abstract

Two separate drive systems for driving a rotary table about an axis of rotation relative to a support member within a predeterminable angular segment. The first drive system can move the rotary table into a starting position and the second drive system is a linear one and has a play-free pre-loaded ball-and-screw spindle drive by means of which the movement of the rotary table is performed within the predeterminable angular segment. The linear drive system can be coupled and uncoupled free from play to and from the rotary table by means of a clamping system, with the linear drive system being connected to the support member and to the clamping system with two play-free joints. A rotary measuring system is mounted at the axis of table rotation to ascertain the table's current angle of rotation. Once the rotary table has been moved to the starting position, the first drive system is switched off and the second drive system is rigidly connected to the rotary table by the clamping system, and thereafter the table is moved free from play by the spindle drive powered by a servomotor under CNC control.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.